Quick-action orthogonal motion conversion mechanism with direct-acting return feature

Abstract

An escape release mechanism that serves as a supplementary means for unlocking a solenoid-driven locking switch. The escape release mechanism comprises a knobbed escape release switch that can be pressed by an operator from inside a protected industrial area to override the solenoid-driven lock. In response to a single-direction linear movement of the escape release key, a pin extends from the escape release mechanism in a direction orthogonal to the escape release key's linear movement. This forward movement causes the pin to displace the locking bolt of the locking switch. As the single-direction linear movement of the escape release key continues, the pin retracts from the locking switch out of the path of the locking tongue, allowing the tongue to be removed. In this way, the pin is both extended and retracted in response to a single-direction linear action by the operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An escape release device, comprising:
 a plunger housed in a plunger housing, wherein a first end of the plunger comprises a pin that protrudes through a hole in a first side of the plunger housing, and a section of the plunger comprises an interactive feature; 
 an escape release key housed within and guided by a key bearing attached to the plunger housing, wherein the key bearing comprises a key shaft that guides a linear motion of the escape release key, and wherein the key bearing positions the escape release key orthogonally to a length of the plunger, 
 wherein 
 a first end of the escape release key comprises a profiled end feature that resides within the plunger housing, and 
 in response to a linear movement of the escape release key into the plunger housing, the profiled end feature interacts with the interactive feature to move the pin in a first direction orthogonal to a direction of the linear movement of the escape release key followed by a second direction opposite the first direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The escape release device of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring that resides in a spring housing attached to the plunger housing, wherein the spring applies a force on the plunger in the second direction. 
     
     
       3. The escape release device of  claim 2 , wherein movement of the pin in the first direction causes the pin to extend from the plunger housing via the hole. 
     
     
       4. The escape release device of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the pin in the first direction causes the pin to displace a locking bolt of a locking switch on which the escape release device is mounted. 
     
     
       5. The escape release device of  claim 3 , wherein a tip of the pin reaches a maximum displacement in the first direction when the escape release key is at an intermediate position of the linear movement at which a lower protrusion on the profiled end section is in contact with the interactive feature. 
     
     
       6. The escape release device of  claim 5 , wherein in response to continuing the linear movement of the escape release key beyond the intermediate position, the force applied to the plunger by the spring moves the pin in the second direction. 
     
     
       7. The escape release device of  claim 5 , wherein in response to continuing the linear movement of the escape release key beyond the intermediate position, a sloped section on the escape release key acts upon the interactive feature to move the pin in the second direction. 
     
     
       8. The escape release device of  claim 7 , wherein
 the tip of the pin is in a home position at a beginning of the linear movement of the escape release key, and 
 while the escape release key is at an end of the linear movement, the tip of the pin is retracted to a position between the maximum displacement in the first direction and the home position. 
 
     
     
       9. The escape release device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the profiled end section comprises a front protrusion configured to reside within the interactive feature of the plunger while the escape release key is withdrawn to a position in which the lower protrusion abuts against an interior surface of the plunger housing, and 
 the front protrusion acts upon the interactive feature to arrest movement of the plunger in the second direction due to the force applied by the spring. 
 
     
     
       10. The escape release device of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive feature is a rectangular ring or a square ring. 
     
     
       11. The escape release device of  claim 1 , further comprising a knob attached to an end of the escape release key opposite the profiled end feature. 
     
     
       12. An assembly for overriding a solenoid-driven lock, comprising:
 an escape release key comprising a profiled end feature, wherein the escape key resides within a key bearing that guides a movement of the escape release key along a first linear path; and 
 a plunger that resides in a plunger housing that guides a movement of the plunger along a second linear path that is substantially orthogonal to the first linear path, the plunger comprising
 a first end that protrudes through a hole in an end of the plunger housing, and 
 an interactive feature located between the first end and a second end of the plunger opposite the first end, 
 wherein 
 in response to traversal of the escape release key along the first linear path in a direction toward the plunger housing, the profiled end feature interacts with the interactive feature to cause the plunger to move in a first direction along the second linear path until reaching a maximum displacement and to move in a second direction opposite the first direction after reaching the maximum displacement. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein
 the movement of the plunger in the first direction causes the first end of the plunger to extend from the hole until the maximum displacement is reached, and 
 movement of the plunger in the second direction causes the first end of the plunger to retract toward the plunger housing. 
 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein
 the second linear path is coaxial with a locking bolt of a locking switch, and 
 movement of the plunger in the first direction causes the first end of the plunger to displace the locking bolt. 
 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a spring that applies a force on the plunger in the second direction. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein
 the profiled end feature comprises a lower protrusion, and 
 the maximum displacement is reached when the escape release key is at an intermediate position along the first linear path that causes the lower protrusion to be in contact with the interactive feature. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein in response to continued traversal of the escape release key along the first linear path in the direction toward the plunger housing beyond the intermediate position, a force applied to the plunger by a spring causes the plunger to move in the second direction. 
     
     
       18. The key assembly of  claim 16 , wherein
 the escape release key further comprises a sloped section, and 
 in response to continued traversal of the escape release key along the first linear path in the direction toward the plunger housing beyond the intermediate position, the sloped section interacts with the interactive feature to move the plunger in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       19. An escape release mechanism, comprising:
 a plunger housing; 
 a key bearing attached to the plunger housing, the key bearing comprising a key shaft that guides a linear motion of an escape release key; and 
 a plunger housed within the plunger housing and arranged orthogonally to the key shaft, the plunger comprising an interactive feature formed between a first end and a second end of the plunger and a pin formed on the first end of a plunger, wherein the pin protrudes through a hole in a first side of the plunger housing and is configured to,
 in response to movement, via the key bearing, of the escape release key from a home position to an intermediate position in a direction toward the plunger housing along a first linear path through the interactive feature, extend from the plunger housing along a second linear path that is substantially orthogonal to the first linear path, and 
 in response to movement of the escape release key from the intermediate position to an end position in the direction toward the plunger housing along the first linear path, retract toward the plunger housing along the second linear path. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The escape release mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein
 movement of the pin along the second linear path is caused by interaction between a profiled end feature of the escape release key and the interactive feature on the plunger.